Toro Steak and Cocktails — Restaurant in South Jordan

A $446.42 disappointment. Save yourself the regret.

We recently visited Toro Steak and Cocktails on a quiet Sunday evening with a party of six. Unfortunately, nearly every aspect of the experience—from food quality to managerial behavior—was deeply disappointing and not remotely aligned with the premium price tag.

🚫 Food and Drink Quality: Subpar Across the Board • Toro Mojito ($16): Unbalanced, and poorly mixed. We’ve had many mojitos across the country; this one was flat and overpriced—especially for Utah. • Sapphire Sip: The texture was bizarre—reminiscent of curdled dairy or cottage cheese. It was unsettling. • Lemon Drops: Passable, but nothing special. If you can rim a glass with sugar and pour lemon vodka, that’s the bar we’re working with here. • Filet Mignon (x2): One ordered medium well came out medium at best. Inconsistent doneness aside, these were the best received item of the evening. • Grilled Salmon: Slightly undercooked and bland. Served with a baked potato that was simply dropped at the table. You just got it how they decided you would. • Bone-in Ribeye: The worst offender. Sinewy, tough, and poorly rendered. When we asked about sourcing, the response was vague but we were assured it was very high quality. • Here’s where it got truly unacceptable: The chef personally came out, was defensive and borderline confrontational, and told my son that “this is just how ribeyes are”—implying the fault was ours for not appreciating a clearly inferior steak. For a place charging $58 for a ribeye, this level of arrogance is inexcusable. He added we should try a different cut next time if we didn't like this one and no offer to make amends. • Shrimp Add-On: Undercooked (literally raw), visibly veined, and inedible. This was served to a two year old!!!!! • Asparagus: Left untouched. • Clam Chowder: The only other remotely competent item. Likely from a can. • New York Steaks (x2): One was correctly cooked; the other arrived too rare.

💰 Pricing and Charges: Borderline Predatory • $446.42 for six people—this included a mandatory $61 gratuity, regardless of service quality. No opt-out. • On top of that, the restaurant added a 4% “CONVENIENCE FEE” for using a credit card, tacking on $17.17 with zero disclosure before payment. This kind of surprise charge is the hallmark of a business trying to squeeze extra dollars from unsuspecting guests. One of the tackiest things I have ever encountered at a "high end" restaurant.

👎 Atmosphere and Service • The restaurant was nearly empty—unusual for a Sunday evening, which in retrospect makes sense. • The ambiance was bleak and off-putting. The music was low-energy and dreary, adding to an already lackluster vibe. • Our server was polite and tried her best but seemed inexperienced and unsure—possibly undertrained. While I won’t fault her effort, she was clearly unsupported by management or kitchen leadership.

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🔍 Final Verdict

Toro attempts to present itself as a high-end steakhouse. What it delivers is closer to a disorganized, overconfident kitchen with poor quality control and questionable ethics regarding billing.

Let me be clear: If the total bill had been $100, we might have brushed this off as “you get what you pay for.” But at nearly $450, this meal ranks among the worst values we’ve eve encountered and we have a lot of experience. Even at half the price ($220), we would have left dissatisfied.

Restaurants that serve undercooked seafood, argue with guests over meat quality, and auto-apply gratuities while layering hidden fees do not deserve repeat business—let alone first-time patrons.

Do yourself a favor: skip Toro Steak and Cocktails. You’ve been warned.

I heard they also do magic tricks? I think the trick was making our money "disappear".

*The owner’s reply to this review offered a 30% discount to “try them out for yourself,” with no acknowledgment of the specific concerns raised, no apology, and no indication that food safety or service issues would be addressed. Proceed at...

I had a co-worker who just would not stop talking about Toro Steakhouse. For months, every time the topic of food came up, he’d circle back to how it was locally owned and how the steaks were on par with, if not better than, some of the top steakhouses in all of Utah. Honestly, I thought he was exaggerating. Either his standards weren’t as high as mine, or maybe he was just overly loyal to this one spot. Still, after hearing him rave about it for so long, curiosity finally got the best of me, and I decided to see if Toro Steakhouse really lived up to the hype.

From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere set the stage. Toro Steakhouse strikes that perfect balance of refined and welcoming—you immediately feel like you’re in for something memorable, whether you’re celebrating a big occasion or just treating yourself after a long week. I started things off with a mojito, and right then I knew this wasn’t going to be an average night out. It came served in a beautiful glass, bright and refreshing with just the right kick. It was so well made that one quickly turned into two… and then three.

The food came rolling out, and each dish built on the excitement. The calamari was crisped to perfection—light, golden, and tender inside, with just enough seasoning to keep you reaching for another bite. Feeling a little adventurous, I went for the tuna tataki, and it was outstanding. Fresh, vibrant, and plated beautifully—it reminded me of something you’d find at a high-end coastal restaurant, not just a landlocked steakhouse in Utah.

And then came the star of the show: the bone-in ribeye. This steak was a masterpiece. Juicy, flavorful, and cooked exactly to my preference, with a sear that locked in all that richness. Pairing it with a baked potato—fluffy on the inside, seasoned just right on the outside—made the whole plate feel like a true steakhouse experience. Every bite was one of those moments where you pause just to appreciate how good it is.

By the end of the night, I finally understood what my co-worker had been raving about for all those months. Toro Steakhouse didn’t just meet my expectations—it exceeded them. From the drinks to the appetizers to the main course, everything felt intentional, elevated, and worth savoring. My only regret is not going sooner. This is the kind of place that reminds you why dining out can...

O.M.G., what a breath of fresh air! First, our host, Tim, was our waiter, too. That was great. It's nice that they have their staff take ownership of the interaction from the moment you're greeted. Tim is an excellent waiter! Extraordinary, actually! In a world where customer service is spiraling down the drain, especially with people of Tim's generation, Tim is a shining beacon on a hill! He has a great, sincere smile that comes naturally to him, and he smiled every time he interacted with us. He is incredibly polite and attentive! If I were a restaurateur, I would poach him for my restaurant. We ordered ribeyes, and they were seasoned well, grilled perfectly, and delicious! I also ordered mashed potatoes. I don't recall what my wife's side was. Everything was wonderful, including the bread and butter beforehand. We took a dessert to go, too, which was also delicious. After the whole experience, Tim brought us a miniature gift bag that had some gourmet cookies and other little treats in it. I've NEVER seen a restaurant do that. What a thoughtful gesture! It is a family-owned and run restaurant, too. So if you dine there, you're supporting local business. For the quality of food and service we received, the prices are phenomenal! And circling back to the breath of fresh air, the atmosphere was so tranquil and relaxing. My wife and I were able to have a great conversation without having to compete with music or other diners. It is mellow, dimly lit with yellowish-hued lights, but not too dim, and just nice and clean. We stopped there on a whim, when we were on our way to Texas Roadhouse, and are so glad we did! Toro is one of our favorite restaurants now, and it is going to be a regular for us. Being candid, I cook amazing ribeyes. We go out to eat for the convenience and the experience. This was the best experience we have had at a steakhouse in years. BRAVO,...